Tactics

by U.S. Marine Corps

This publication is about winning in combat. Winning requires many excellence in techniques, an appreciation of the enemy, exemplary leadership, battlefield judgment, and focused combat power. Yet these factors by themselves do not ensure success in battle. Many armies, both winners and losers have possessed many or all of these attributes. When we examine closely the differences between victor and vanquished, we draw one conclusion. Success went to the armies whose leaders, senior and junior, could best focus their efforts-their skills and their resources-toward a decisive end. Their success arose not merely from excellence in techniques, procedures, and material but from their leaders' abilities to uniquely and effectively combine them. Winning in combat depends upon tactical leaders who can think creatively and act decisively.

Genres: Military Fiction, Writing, War

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 1997

About the author

The U.S. Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the United States Department of the Navy, often working closely with U.S. naval forces for training, transportation, and logistic purposes; however, in the military leadership structure the Marine Corps is a separate branch.

Reviews

[John Yovanovitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent leadership book! Reviewed along with @JockoPodcast episodes 187-190. (Highly recommend that dual learning medium!)

I am a firefighter, not a Marine, however, the book itself explains its relevance:

“Because of the relative infrequency of actual combat experiences in most military leaders' careers, Marines must seek to expand their understanding through other, less direct means. The study of military history is critical to developing judgment and insight. It enables us to see how successful commanders have thought through—and fought through—the situations they faced. Not many people can do it instinctively—few possess the rare native ability to think militarily. Even those few can enhance their abilities through study and practice.” USMC MCDP 1-3

Lead. Win.

[Christopher Paludi · Rating 5 out of 5]

MCDP 1-3 emphasizes the importance of commanders’ creativity and “envisioning a larger result for their actions…that lead[s] to a result beyond itself.” (2-11) Namely, as Marines we seek to exploit advantage and generate leverage in order to achieve decisive victories. MCDP 1-3 explains how to think about decision with an ambush mentality, with a bias for bold and ruthless action at the right moment and in accordance with commander’s intent. Rommel brings this to life in Attacks, which should be read in tandem with this text.

Below are lessons from MCDP 1-3 that will stick with me.

“Tactical success evolves from the synthesis of training and education — the creative application of technical skills based on sound judgment.” (8-10)

“The greatest failing of a leader is a failure to lead. Two steadfast rules apply. First, in situations clearly requiring independent decisions, a leader has the solemn duty to make them….Second, inaction and omission based on a failure of moral courage are much worse than any judgment error reflecting a sincere effort to act.” (8-6)

“Self-discipline is an internal force that morally obligates all Marines to do what they know is right….As leaders of Marines, we must create a climate in which self-discipline and a high level of initiative can flourish within the boundaries of military discipline.” (6-8/9)

“The main effort becomes a harmonizing force for a subordinate’s initiative. Faced with a decision, we ask ourselves: How can I best support the main effort?” (2-19)

“Identifying the main effort is the principal and most important answer to the question, ‘How do we achieve a decision?’” (2-21)

“We must concentrate our efforts on a critical vulnerability, that is, a vulnerability which permits us to destroy some capability without which the enemy cannot function effectively.” (2-17)

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Taleb's "The Black Swan", I was curious as to how military personnel handle the dynamic nature of warfare as Taleb mentions that the military seems to be one of the only units in a society with skin in the game and where most of its operations are very squarely in "extremistan".

In this book I found principles that seem consistent with other domains on tactical decision making under uncertainty with a solid grounding and elaboration as to why they are necessary.

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is my realization that I could probably have just read chess books and literature and probably ended up with the same knowledge. That said, I lost nothing in reading this book. It is highly concise and information dense and I will definitely reference it for research purposes.

[Nicholle]

This is a placeholder for a book not on Goodreads: How I Improved the United States Marine Corps by Dan Struckman. Read as a High Plains International Book Awards reader.
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[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read another service's doctrine. The Marines do a far better job of writing for their intended audience, both in terms of explicating concepts and in overall accessibility. The sports analogies proved effective. The military analogies, however, fell far short of useful. The most effective anecdotes seemed more like summaries of scenes from popular war movies. Other historical examples lacked adequate explanation and detailed analysis. Provided maps lent little additional clarity, and in some instances further muddied the concepts authors were attempting to illustrate.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an extremely technical approach to specific tactics, but rather an overarching, broad view of the attributes that characterize a good tactical plan, and the mindset that is necessary for being a good tactician. Very short, well written, and well worth reading.

[John Budish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stand Up Explanation Of Tactics

Well written and easy to understand. Gives great definitions of the various terms and uses qoutes from various Generals and Warriors. And easy informative read.

[Gregory Eakins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just a rather useless discussion on some common sense parts of war and conflict. There was nothing really groundbreaking or interesting here.

[Makena Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comment and analysis by Jock Willink.

[Christopher Aller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good basics

A must read for a beginner tactical perspective. Provides numerous principles that if properly applied can increase tactical leaders effectiveness